Saxton: Free racing for recycling at Pocono on June 9

Thanks to Monster Energy, fans can enjoy all of the racing action and fun activities at Pocono Raceway on Friday, June 9 for free just by recycling any size Monster Energy can.

With Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying, NASCAR XFINITY Series practice and the ARCA Racing Series General Tire #AnywhereisPossible 200, Friday has a bevy of on-track activity.

“This first of its kind initiative in NASCAR continues to showcase our dedication to our fans, partners and the environment,” said Pocono Raceway President & CEO Brandon Igdalsky. “We are thrilled to know that anyone who chooses to recycle a Monster Energy can will enjoy a great day of NASCAR and ARCA racing free of charge!”

Your admission is free of charge with an empty Monster Energy drink can as is grandstand parking.

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Fans can bring their Monster Energy can to be recycled at our redemption center outside of Fan Fair behind the grandstands. They will be given a ticket and can enjoy a Friday at the racetrack for free. In addition to the on-track action, Monster Energy will also be doing displays in the Fan Fair along with a number of vendors.

Pocono Raceway, along with Monster Energy and NASCAR will ensure all cans are recycled. Under the NASCAR Green umbrella, a comprehensive recycling effort has accounted for millions of bottles and cans being recycled annually thanks to designated bins in the grandstands, concourse, suites, garage, and campgrounds at almost every track NASCAR visits. For more information visit NASCAR.com/Green.

Pocono Raceway will host seven national motorsports events during the 2017 racing season, including a NASCAR XFINITY Series race on June 10. The Pocono 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race is set for June 11, the Pennsylvania 400 MENCS race on July 30 and the ABC Supply 500 Verizon IndyCar Series race on August 20. The Pocono Mountains 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck race is scheduled for July 29 and two ARCA Series Presented by Menards races with General Tire #AnywhereIsPossible 200 on June 9 and the ARCA Racing Series 150 on July 28 offered as well.

Tickets for all races are now on sale at poconoraceway.com or by calling 1-800-RACEWAY

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FOX NASCAR will add a new wrinkle to its NASCAR XFINITY Series coverage, the network announced recently at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

For the first time in motorsports history, the June 10 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Pocono Raceway will be broadcast entirely by active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers. The broadcast lineup will include:

Play-by-play: Kevin Harvick

Color Analysts: Joey Logano and Clint Bowyer

Pit Reporters: Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Hollywood Hotel: Danica Patrick and Denny Hamlin

“For the last three seasons, FOX Sports has rotated Cup Series drivers in the XFINITY booth,” NASCAR on FOX analyst Michael Waltrip said. Adam (Alexander) and I have had the best time bringing the guys in and listening to their insight on what’s going on at the track. … It’s just a really neat fit for them to come in and share their insight.”

Harvick has made the most appearances, but will debut as a play-by-play announcer.

“I don’t know that I’m actually ready to take the next step,” Harvick said. “The biggest thing for me is just preparing a little more than I have in the past. Michael and Adam, it’s a pretty selfless act that they let us in the booth and take part in the broadcast. It’s great for the fans for us to have been off the track an hour before and relate what’s going on with the cars and the tires and everything.”

“I think this is going to be really cool,” she said. “I don’t quite know what I’m in for but I’m sure it’s going to be more of a challenge than whatever else I’ll be doing that day, but I’m up to the challenge.

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Just because he will be “retiring” from NASCAR after this season doesn’t mean Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be riding off into the sunset in an RV. We already know that NASCAR’s most popular driver will race in at least two Xfinity series races, and he’s open to perhaps appearing in the Daytona Clash, but Tuesday the world found out that he and new wife Amy will take on new roles: that of home renovators.

HGTV and Earnhardt announced that he his wife, Amy will star in a special home-improvement series on the DIY Network early next year.

Amy is an accomplished interior designer. In fact, the she and Earnhardt met during the building of his North Carolina home when she was an interior designer with the Atlanta-based architectural firm of Wakefield Beasley & Associates. The two were married on New Year’s Eve 2016.

“Amy is a fantastic designer,” said Earnhardt. “She has creative ideas and a strong work ethic. We love DIY projects around the house, so I expect this to be challenging but fun.”

That house won’t be in North Carolina however, it will be near the southernmost point in the United States, Key West, Fla.

The limited series will follow the couple as they restore a classic but dilapidated home in the historic Old Town district of Key West, transforming it into a contemporary seaside retreat. But to create their idyllic tropical getaway, Dale Jr. and Amy face some of the challenges common to renovating and restoring old homes, including structural issues and antiquated wiring and plumbing.

“Amy and I are excited to take on our first home renovation-project together,” he said in a statement. “Amy is a fantastic designer. She has creative ideas and a strong work ethic. We love DIY projects around the house, and so I expect this to be challenging but fun.”

The new DIY Network series is slated to premiere in early 2018.

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Grandview Speedway offers the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series featuring Jesse Hockett Classic. Topping the night will be the nationally famous United States Auto Club (USAC) National Non-Wing Sprint Cars and 358 Modified stock cars (NASCAR points awarded) on Tuesday, June 13th at 7:30 p.m.